April 2nd, 2020
The automobile
industry is pushing the European Commission to relax car industry CO2 targets
in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Representatives for
car manufacturers, suppliers, tyre-makers and dealers wrote to Commission
President Ursula von der Leyen last week asking for the let-up, stressing that
the pandemic should justify postponing CO2 and safety laws.
However,
Brussels-based environmental organisation Transport & Environment (T&E)
is arguing that the request is “currently unfounded” and that it would be
“potentially damaging for the long-term sustainability and competitiveness of
the car industry in Europe”.
To date, CO2 accounts
for 14 per cent of total emissions for the European Union and 70 per cent of
total road transport emissions for the bloc.
Starting on 1 January,
all new passenger car sales in the EU would have be at, or below the average
targets, of 95g of carbon dioxide per kilometre in a bid to reduce emissions.
By 2021, all new passenger car sales would have to meet the target.
Major EU car
manufacturing brands all currently offer vehicles that are below the 95 gram
per kilometre target, including the VW Polo, the Ford Fiesta and the Renault
Megane.
T&E stress that
this figure reflects the produced fleet average and that as a result, “falling
car sales do not automatically affect compliance”.
The organisation also
notes that the EU target is measured in CO2, not in the sale of electric
vehicles. Reflecting on financial recovery efforts in 2008, T&E notes that
compliance with EU environmental regulations were small and fuel-efficient
cars, not electric vehicles.
But, they go on to
argue, because car manufacturers pushed an increase in the sale of
high-emitting SUVs, they increased profit margins and the emissions of fleets
continued to grow. “So, electric cars are now the preferred option for
compliance for many – and the best solution for the climate.
Additionally, in order
for the bloc to meet its 2020 CO2 target, EV sales in Europe would need to be
around 5 per cent of all new vehicle sales. So far, 2020 has been a
record year for electric cars.
As part of recovery
packages, governments the bloc-over could ensure “markets continue to move in
the right direction” according to T&E, if they keep CO2 criteria in
mind.
The organisation is
advocating for scrappage schemes to target fuel-inefficient fleets and reward
the purchase of electric vehicles by supporting charging infrastructure.
The purchase of
smaller and lower-emitting cars should also be supported, where sales are
predicted to see a considerable hit.
“While the overall
economic recovery is crucial, we shouldn’t let some opportunistic carmakers use
the crisis to shamelessly roll back the EU climate targets for cars,” Julia
Poliscanova of T&E said.
“Any incentives to boost demand once normal life resumes should be targeted at zero-emissions cars. This will help keep jobs in Europe, curb pollution, and boost the competitiveness of our car industry,” she added.
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